Roberto Carlos and Guti add to Real woes

Real Madrid are facing an injury crisis ahead of Saturday's game against Villarreal after Roberto Carlos and Guti joined a lengthening injury list on Thursday. Fernando Hierro and Claude Makelele are both suspended.

The Brazilian defender limped out from the Champions' League tie against Roma on Wednesday night with a recurrence of a long-standing injury in his right knee.

And Roberto Carlos is now fed up with the injury as it never seems to heal. He said on Thursday: "It is not a serious injury but the doctors have warned me that I need to rest soon. But I can't rest now.

"I will try to play against Villarreal but I don't think I will travel to Moscow next week [to play against Lokomotiv] as there is the Bolivia v Brazil game on the horizon and I need to be there."

He added: "It really hurts and I don't want to suffer anymore. It makes me lose all my strength in my right leg as that is the one I have to stand on when I use my left foot to shoot."

"My intention is playing against Villarreal and then travel to join the Brazilian national team to see what Brazilian doctors have to say. I don't care who cures me -Real Madrid or the national team doctors - but I don't want to suffer anymore".

He has been told that he needs to rest for at least 15 days for the problem to go away – but he has no intention to do so a the moment.

Guti, meanwhile, sprained his ankle in training on Thursday and is also doubtful for the Villarreal game.

If both players are absent, coach Vicente Del Bosque will be without seven players for the tie against Villarreal.

Savio, Flavio Conceicao, Ivan Campo, Karanka, Geremi, Guti and Roberto Carlos are all injured while Hierro and Makelele are suspended.